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  • Now a college freshman, Aurora grad Ellie Wanek has fulfilled her dream serving as Nebraska FFA State President. She retired her jacket officially in a ceremony held at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln on Friday.
    Now a college freshman, Aurora grad Ellie Wanek has fulfilled her dream serving as Nebraska FFA State President. She retired her jacket officially in a ceremony held at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln on Friday.
  • Gary Rath holds up a bottle of opium, a popular painkiller at the time of the Civil War, during his lecture on the era’s medicine. He had many props to show the medical techniques of 1860’s doctors.
    Gary Rath holds up a bottle of opium, a popular painkiller at the time of the Civil War, during his lecture on the era’s medicine. He had many props to show the medical techniques of 1860’s doctors.
  • Allan Coats poses with his daughters Tori and Alex in front of the 1970 Plymouth Road Runner in a garage on their property. Most of the renovation occurred in the garage with Alan receiving help from friends and family.
    Allan Coats poses with his daughters Tori and Alex in front of the 1970 Plymouth Road Runner in a garage on their property. Most of the renovation occurred in the garage with Alan receiving help from friends and family.
  • Nate Boerkircher earned plenty of praise from his coaches throughout spring practice.
    Nate Boerkircher earned plenty of praise from his coaches throughout spring practice.
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Ellie Wanek bids farewell to presidential role
The time has officially come and gone for Aurora grad Ellie Wanek to serve her state and the Nebraska State FFA as president for 2021-22.
She has spent the past year visiting other FFA chapters across the state, serving as a leader, inspiring the masses and spreading (while learning) the news about opportunities across agriculture.
So, as part of the 94th annual Nebraska FFA State Convention on Friday, Wanek delivered her retiring address to a packed Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln.

 

Mending the wounds: a lecture on Civil War medicine
The images of Civil War medicine tend to make people cringe in the same way one imagines the “justice” of the Salem Witch Trials, with a man screaming as a limb is taken without anaesthetic, forced to bite a bullet while men lie on the battlefield for days.
Such images are what educator Gary Rath wanted to show as myths or half-truths at a lecture in the Alice Farr Library on Monday night. He reported that while in the early years medicine and surgery were difficult to administer successfully, eventually doctors and nurses were able to save numerous lives with as little pain as possible.

 

A lifelong love, Coats brings his first car back to life
No one forgets their first car, but how many people keep it and restore their starting vehicle to its former glory?
One of the few that can claim this title is Allan Coats of Giltner, who has invested in renewing his ‘70 Plymouth Road Runner for the past six years and counting.
“It’s just an ongoing process,” Coats said before turning to his two daughters who helped with the project. “We really had a lot of time for other projects since this one started, haven’t we? We just keep working on this one; make it better every time.”

 

Boerkircher bros make most of spring game
The Nebraska Red-White scrimmage is a rite of passage for Nebraska fans and athletes alike.
It earmarks the true beginning of what is to come in the fall and serves as a benchmark for the football team to test their skills, practice in new roles and get the feel of the fans before bigger games in the fall.
Though the Huskers are feeling the absence of tight end and Aurora native Austin Allen, not all is lost. Former Huskies, and brothers, Ian and Nate Boerkircher will serve the program well and this past 70-degree Saturday in Lincoln was a testament to that truth.